One-time-use camera with stop-protrusion for engaging open light lock of cassette to prevent cassette from dislodging lid closing chamber

ABSTRACT

A camera comprising a chamber for a film cassette having a light lock pivoted open to permit film movement into the cassette interior and closed to prevent ambient light from entering the cassette interior, and a lid for closing the chamber, is characterized in that a stop-protrusion is located in the chamber in the way of the light lock, when it is open, to prevent the film cassette from being moved against the lid to move the lid to open the chamber and to be clear of the light lock, when it is closed, to permit the film cassette to be moved against the lid to open the chamber.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Reference is made to commonly assigned application Ser. No. 08/590,719,entitled ONE-TIME-USE CAMERA WITH LID FLEXED TO UNCOVER CHAMBER WHENCASSETTE FORCIBLY EJECTED FROM CHAMBER and filed Jan. 24, 1996 in thenames of David C. Smart and Ralph M. Lyon.

The cross-referenced application is incorporated in this application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to the field of photography, and inparticular to cameras to be used with film cassettes. More specifically,the invention relates to a one-time-use camera with a stop-protrusionfor engaging an open light lock of a film cassette in a chamber toprevent the cassette from dislodging a lid covering the chamber.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commonly assigned prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,357,303, issued Oct. 18,1994, discloses a film cassette having a light lock which is pivotedclosed to prevent ambient light from entering the cassette interior andis pivoted open to permit film movement out of and into the cassetteinterior. An implement or tool is designed to engage the light lock topivot it open and closed.

Commonly assigned prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,438, issued Jul. 27,1993, discloses a camera intended for use with a film cassette having alight lock which is pivoted closed to prevent ambient light fromentering the cassette interior and is pivoted open to permit filmmovement out of and into the cassette interior. The camera has a releasebutton which when manually moved in a releasing direction actuates alatching device. The latching device normally secures a door closed overa chamber holding the film cassette. However, when the latching deviceis actuated, it operates to pivot the light lock closed and to releasethe door to uncover the chamber.

THE CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATION

The cross-referenced application discloses a camera with a chamber forholding a film cassette and a lid for closing the chamber. An ingressopening to the chamber is located to admit an insertion tool into thechamber to push the cassette against the lid to move the lid to open thechamber, to permit the cassette to be pushed out of the chamber. Thechamber and the lid have respective peripheries with mutually engaginglight-trapping portions which engage to secure the lid to light-tightlyclose the chamber, but which are separated when the lid is moved to openthe chamber. The lid is flexible and has a fixed projection whichprotrudes into the chamber to be pushed by the cassette to flex the lidpartially out of the chamber to make the engaging portion of the lidseparate from the engaging portion of the chamber.

If the camera is dropped onto a relatively hard surface, the resultingimpact to the camera might jar the film cassette against the lid todislodge the lid to open the chamber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A camera comprising a chamber for a film cassette having a light lockpivoted open to permit film movement into the cassette interior andclosed to prevent ambient light from entering the cassette interior, anda lid for closing the chamber, is characterized in that:

a stop-protrusion is located in the chamber in the way of the lightlock, when it is open, to prevent the film cassette from being movedagainst the lid to move the lid to open the chamber and to be clear ofthe light lock, when it is closed, to permit the film cassette to bemoved against the lid to open the chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded partial perspective view of a camera for use witha film cassette, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled partial perspective view of the camera with thefilm cassette as seen from an opposite side;

FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are assembled partial perspective views of thecamera with the film cassette, depicting operation of the camera;

FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are opposite end views of the filmcassette, depicting operation of a visual exposure indicator (VEI); and

FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 are assembled partial perspective views of thecamera with the film cassette, depicting how the film cassette isejected from a cassette chamber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is disclosed as being embodied preferably in a camera.Because the features of a camera are generally known, the descriptionwhich follows is directed in particular only to those elements formingpart of or cooperating directly with the disclosed embodiment. It is tobe understood, however, that other elements may take various forms knownto a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Film Cassette

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a film cassette 10similar in operation to ones disclosed in prior art U.S. Pat. No.5,357,303, issued Oct. 18, 1994, and No. 5,231,438, issued Jul. 27,1993. The film cassette 10 includes a cassette shell 12 that contains aflanged spool 14 on which is stored a wound unexposed/exposed filmstrip16. A slightly elastic light lock 18 is supported within a filmegress/ingress slot 20 in the cassette shell 12 to be pivoted open topermit film movement out of and back into the shell, through the slot,and to be pivoted closed to prevent ambient light from entering theshell, through the slot.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the film cassette 10 from opposite sides, with thelight lock 18 open and all but a trailing film end portion 22 of thefilmstrip 16 wound into the cassette shell 12 after the filmstrip isexposed outside the cassette shell. FIG. 6 shows the light lock 18pivoted completely closed after the trailing film end portion 22 iswound into the cassette shell 12.

The spool 14 has a coaxial drive cavity 24 accessible at a drive end 26of the cassette shell 12 and the light lock 18 has a coaxial drivecavity 28 accessible at the same end of the cassette shell as shown inFIG. 1. A visual exposure indicator (VEI) in the form of an indicatorflag 30 is rotatable coaxially with the spool 14 to be respectivelypositioned in four separate windows 32, 34, 36 and 38 in a VEI end 40 ofthe cassette shell 12 when the spool is at different predeterminedangles of rotation. The VEI end 40 of the cassette shell 12 is anopposite end of the cassette shell, with respect to the drive end 26 ofthe cassette shell. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the spool 14 is at apredetermined acute angle of rotation 42 the indicator flag 30 is at thesame angle to be positioned in the window 32, to provide a visualfilm-unexposed warning or indication. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, whenthe spool 14 is at a predetermined first-obtuse angle of rotation 44 theindicator flag 30 is at the same angle to be positioned in the window34, to provide a visual film-partially-exposed warning or indication. Asshown in FIGS. 11 and 12, when the spool 14 is at a predeterminedsecond-obtuse angle of rotation 46 the indicator flag 30 is at the sameangle to be positioned in the window 36, to provide a visualfilm-completely-exposed warning or indication. As shown in FIGS. 13 and14, when the spool 14 is at a predetermined third-obtuse angle ofrotation 48 the indicator flag 30 is at the same angle to be positionedin the window 38, to provide a visual film-processed warning orindication.

Camera

A partially shown camera 50 with which the film cassette 10 is to beused is shown in FIGS. 1 and 15.

Looking at FIG. 15, the camera 50 includes a cassette chamber 52 for thefilm cassette 10. The chamber 52 is open at its top and bottom, and hasa film egress/ingress slot (not shown) opposite the film egress/ingressslot 20 in the cassette shell 12 to permit film movement out of and backinto the chamber. An exterior top housing portion 54 of the camera 50has a tool ingress opening 56 which is located coaxially above the drivecavity 28 of the light lock 18. A bottom lid 58 or plug of the camera 50removably seals the chamber 52 at its bottom.

Looking at FIGS. 1 and 2, an actuator unit 60 for pivoting the lightlock 18 closed after the trailing film end portion 22 is wound into thecassette shell 12 comprises an integral single-piece driver 62 and filmsensor lever 64. The film sensor lever 64 has a sensor head 66 shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 in contact with the trailing film end portion 22. Thedriver 62 has a depending drive-part 68 located in the drive cavity 28of the light lock 18 to rotationally engage the light lock in order topivot the light lock closed, and a coaxial upstanding gear-support-part70 on which is coaxially fixed a first spur gear 72. Rotation of thefirst spur gear 72 in a counter-clockwise direction in FIGS. 1 and 2similarly rotates the drive-part 68 to pivot the light lock 18 closed.

A manual film rewind thumbwheel 74 has a depending coaxial drive-part 76located in the drive cavity 24 of the spool 14 to rotationally engagethe spool. The thumbwheel 74 is manually rotated in a film windingdirection 78 to similarly rotate the spool 14 to wind the filmstrip 16including the trailing film end portion 22 into the cassette shell 12.

A second spur gear 80 continuously in mesh with the first spur gear 72is coaxially fixed to a locking lever 82. A mount-pin 84 rotationallysupports the second spur gear 80 and the locking lever 82, and maintainsthe second spur gear continuously spaced from the thumbwheel 74. Asshown in FIGS. 1-4 and 15, the locking lever 82 is normally locatedbeneath the tool ingress opening 56 in the top housing portion 54 tocover or block the tool ingress opening.

A tension spring 86 biases the locking lever 82 to rotate with thesecond spur gear 80 in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1 to, in turn, biasthe first spur gear 72 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction inFIG. 1 to urge the sensor head 66 of the film sensor lever 64 againstthe filmstrip 16. Film resistance at the sensor head 66 is greater thanthe bias of the spring 66. As a result, the spring 86 is prevented fromurging the locking lever 82 to rotate with the second spur gear 80 in aclockwise direction in FIG. 1 in order to move one end 88 of the lockinglever against an arcuate rib 90 on the thumbwheel 74. Instead, the leverend 88 is held spaced a slight distance 92 from the arcuate rib 90.

Operation

Going from FIGS. 1 and 2 to FIG. 3, when the thumbwheel 74 is rotated inthe film winding direction 78 the trailing film end portion 22 is drawnfrom the sensor head 66 of the film sensor lever 64 and into the slot 20in the cassette shell 12. Once the trailing film end portion 22 is movedclear of the sensor head 66 the resulting absence of film resistance atthe sensor head allows the spring 86 to rotate the locking lever and thesecond spur gear 80 clockwise in FIG. 3 until the lever end 88 abuts thearcuate rib 90 on the thumbwheel 74. Consequently, the actuator unit 60is rotated counter-clockwise in FIG. 3 via the first spur gear 72 tomake the drive-part 68 similarly pivot the light lock 18 initiallyclosed ten degrees as shown in FIG. 3, to partially (slightly) close thelight lock.

In FIG. 4, the thumbwheel 74 is rotated further in the film windingdirection 78 than in FIG. 3 to draw the trailing film end portion 22from the slot 20 and into the interior of the cassette shell 12 and toposition a gap 94 in the arcuate rib 90 opposite the lever end 88. Thepresence of the gap 94 opposite the lever end 88 allows the spring 86 torotate the locking lever 82 and the second spur gear 80 clockwise inFIG. 4 until the lever end is seated in the gap. Consequently, theactuator unit 60 is rotated counter-clockwise in FIG. 4 via the firstspur gear 72 to make the drive-part 68 similarly pivot the light lock 18further closed twenty degrees as shown in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 5, the thumbwheel 74 is rotated further in the film windingdirection 78 than in FIG. 4 to draw the trailing film end portion 22further into the interior of the cassette shell 12 and to make thearcuate rib 90 pivot the lever end 88 to rotate the locking lever 82 andthe second spur gear 80 clockwise in FIG. 5. Consequently, the actuatorunit 60 is rotated counter-clockwise in FIG. 5 via the first spur gear72 to make the drive-part 68 similarly pivot the light lock 18 furtherclosed thirty degrees as shown in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 6, the thumbwheel 74 is rotated further in the film windingdirection 78 than in FIG. 5 to draw the trailing film end portion 22further into the interior of the cassette shell 12 and to make thearcuate rib 90 pivot the lever end 88 to rotate the locking lever 82 andthe second spur gear 80 clockwise in FIG. 5 until the lever end ispivoted out of the gap 94. Consequently, the actuator unit 60 is rotatedcounter-clockwise in FIG. 6 via the first spur gear 72 to make thedrive-part 68 similarly pivot the light lock 18 further closedthirty-two degrees as shown in FIG. 6, to completely close the lightlock.

At this time, a locking tooth 96 on the underside of the locking lever82 is moved into engagement with the thumbwheel 74 to prevent furtherrotation of the thumbwheel in the film winding direction 78 as shown inFIGS. 6 and 16. The locking tooth 96 secures the thumbwheel 74 with thespool 14 at the predetermined second-obtuse angle of rotation. As shownin FIGS. 11 and 12, when the spool 14 is at the predeterminedsecond-obtuse angle of rotation 46 the indicator flag 30 is at the sameangle and, therefore is positioned in the window 36 to provide a visualfilm-completely-exposed warning or indication.

Also, the locking lever 82 uncovers the tool ingress opening 56 in thetop housing portion 54. Then, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 a manualinsertion tool 98 can be inserted through the ingress opening 56 andagainst the first spur gear 72 to force the actuator unit 60 and,therefore, the film cassette 10 downward in the chamber 52.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the bottom lid 58 has a peripheral annularbead or lip 100 which is snugly received within a mating peripheralannular groove 102 in the chamber 52 to removably secure the lid inplace to light-tightly close the chamber at its bottom. The lid 58 isflexible, and has a fixed x-shaped projection 104 inwardly adjacent theperipheral annular lip 100 and a fixed x-shaped projection 106 which iscentered on the lid to be radially spaced from the lip. See FIG. 17. Theprojection 104 protrudes into the chamber 52 in line with the drive-part68 of the actuator unit 60. The projection 106 protrudes into thechamber 52 in line with the drive-part 76 of the thumbwheel 74. The twoprojections 104 and 106 are the same height. When the manual insertiontool 98 is inserted through the ingress opening 56 and against the firstspur gear 72 to force the actuator unit 60 and the film cassette 10downward in the chamber 52, the cassette is pushed simultaneouslyagainst the two projections 104 and 106. Consequently, the lid 58 isflexed or bowed slightly out of the chamber 52 at a central portion 108of the lid, beneath the projection 106, and is flexed or bowed slightlyout of the chamber at an adjoining radial portion 110 of the lid, closeto the projection 104. This distortion of the lid 58 causes theperipheral annular lip 100 of the lid to start to separate from theperipheral annular groove 102 in the chamber 52, beginning in thevicinity of the projection 104. Then, continued pushing of the cassette1 against the projection 106 continues to progressively separate theperipheral annular lip 100 of the lid 58 from the peripheral annulargroove 102 in the chamber 52. When the separation is completed, the lid58 falls away from the chamber 52 and the cassette 10 is pushed out ofthe chamber. See FIG. 17.

If the camera 50 is dropped onto a relatively hard surface, with thefilm cassette 10 in the chamber 52, the resulting impact to the cameramight jar the cassette against the two projections 104 and 106 of thebottom lid 58 to possibly dislodge the lid to open the chamber 52. Toprevent the lid 58 from being dislodged to open the chamber 52, a fixedstop-protrusion 112 is located in the chamber 52 in the way of the lightlock 18, when it is open, to keep the film cassette 10 from being jarredagainst the two projections 104 and 106. See FIG. 15. However, when thelight lock 18 is completely closed, it is retracted from thestop-protrusion 112. Thus, the stop-protrusion 112 is clear of the lightlock 18 to permit the film cassette 10 to be pushed against the twoprojections 104 and 106 to separate the lid 58 from the chamber 52 andto push the cassette out of the chamber. See FIGS. 16 and 17.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferredembodiment. However, it will be appreciated that variations andmodifications can be effected by a person of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope of the invention.

PARTS LIST

10. film cassette

12. cassette shell

14. flanged spool

16. filmstrip

18. light lock

20. slot

22. trailing film end portion

24. drive cavity

26. drive end

28. drive cavity

30. indicator flag

32. window

34. window

36. window

38. window

40. VEI end

42. acute angle of rotation

44. first-obtuse angle of rotation

46. second-obtuse angle of rotation

48. third-obtuse angle of rotation

50. camera

52. cassette chamber

54. top housing portion

56. tool ingress opening

58. bottom lid

60. actuator unit

62. driver

64. film sensor lever

66. sensor head

68. drive-part

70. gear-support-part

72. first spur gear

74. film rewind thumbwheel

76. drive-part

78. film winding direction

80. second spur gear

82. locking lever

84. mount-pin

86. tension spring

88. lever end

90. arcuate rib

92. slight distance

94. gap

96. locking tooth

98. insertion tool

100. peripheral annular lip

102. peripheral annular groove

104. x-shaped projection

106. x-shaped projection

108. central portion

110. adjoining portion

112. stop-protrusion

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera comprising a chamber for a film cassettehaving a light lock pivoted open to permit film movement into thecassette interior and closed to prevent ambient light from entering thecassette interior, and a lid for closing said chamber, is characterizedin that:a stop-protrusion is located in said chamber in the way of thelight lock, when it is open, to prevent the film cassette from beingmoved against said lid to move the lid to open the chamber and to beclear of the light lock, when it is closed, to permit the film cassetteto be moved against the lid to open the chamber.
 2. A camera comprisinga chamber for a film cassette having a light lock pivoted open to permitfilm movement into the cassette interior and closed to prevent ambientlight from entering the cassette interior, is characterized in that:astop-protrusion is located in said chamber in the way of the light lock,when it is open, to prevent the film cassette from being removed fromthe chamber and to be clear of the light lock, when it is closed, topermit the film cassette to be removed from the chamber.
 3. A camera asrecited in claim 2, wherein a lid closing said chamber is supported forthe film cassette to be pushed against said lid to move the lid to openthe chamber to permit the film cassette to be removed from the chamber.